Historical County Meath Tour

Our Day Tour of the Historical County Meath is a one-in-a-kind experience. We include more items on our Meath Tours than any other Tour Operator, including a Viewing from the Outside of a Famine House (designed 1838 – 1841 and used as Famine Workhouse 1845 – 1849) as well as a viewing of a Famine memorial Graveyard. We also include a viewing of an original Motte from the Norman Period 1169 AD and used in Construction of the Motte and Bailey.

Kells: St Columbas Church, Kells and Replica Book of Kells

St Columba’s Church and Grounds mark the original site of the Monastary of Kells. St. Columba’s Church stands on one of the most important Church sites in Co. Meath The ‘Annals of Ulster’ for the year 804CE show that the Columban community on the island of Iona transferred to Kells which then became the principal Irish Columban monastery and it was here that The Great Book of Kells was completed.

Newgrange

The World UNESCO Megalithic Passage Tomb at Newgrange (Bru na Boinne) was built about 3200 BC. The kidney shaped mound covers an area of over one acre and is surrounded by 97 kerbstones, some of which are richly decorated with megalithic art. The passage and chamber are illuminated once a year on the 21st December at the Winter Solstice.

Megalithic mounds such as Newgrange entered Irish mythology as sídhe or fairy mounds. Your Genealogy experience of Ireland starts here when man finally decides to settle down and Farm the rich agricultural land in Ireland.

Battle of the Boyne site

Commemorating 1798 rebellion County Meath

The Battle of the Boyne was a battle in 1690 between the Catholic King James II and the Protestant King William III of England and II of Scotland battle took place at the River Boyne near the town of Drogheda on the east coast of Ireland, and resulted in a victory for King William. This turned the tide in King James’s failed attempt to regain the British crown and ultimately aided in ensuring the continued Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland. Learn how this one action reflected on your Ancestors’ Lives in Ireland.

Trim Castle & Medieval Town of Trim

12th century Cathedral Trim

One of Ireland’s heritage towns, Trim is situated on the River Boyne. The town is dominated by the medieval Trim Castle, which was built by Hugh de Lacy in 1173. The largest Norman castle in Europe, it is now restored and visitors can access the 75ft square keep and grounds by guided tour. Sections of the epic film Braveheart were filmed here.

Also in the Town the Oldest unaltered Bridge in Ireland / The Oldest Anglican Ruins in Ireland.

Monasterboice

The historic ruins of Monasterboice are of an early Christian settlement in County Louth in Ireland, north of Drogheda. It was founded in the late 5th century by Saint Buithe

The site houses two churches built in the 13th century and an earlier round tower, but it is most famous for its 10th century high crosses.

The High Cross of Muiredach is regarded as the finest high cross in the whole of Ireland and features biblical carvings of both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. It also features the Highest Cross in Ireland at 7 meters Tall.

Also seen is a Bullaun Stone associated with St. Aid Bishop of Killare in 6th-century. At Saint Aid’s birth his head had hit a stone, leaving a hole in which collected rainwater that cured all ailments, thus identifying it with the Irish tradition of Bullaun stones.

Finally a pre Christian Grave is also seen with the Grave stone remarkably preserved.

Ancient Hill of Tara

The Hill of Tara is an ancient Neolithic Age site in County Meath, Ireland and the home of the High Kings of Ireland. The oldest monument at the site is the Mound of the Hostages, a Neolithic passage tomb, dating from c. 3200 BCE. The ring forts and other enclosures, such as the Banquet Hall, date from the Iron Age. The Lia Fail (stone of destiny), by which the ancient kings were inaugurated, still stands on the hill. The site is also associated with the Tuatha De Danaan, the pre-Celtic peoples of Ireland and with the mystical elements they came to embody.

Ancient Hill of Slane

The great Festivals of pagan Ireland were announced by a bonfire on the hill which would have been seen for many miles in every direction. Here St Patrick lit the Pascal Fire 433 AD in Defiance of the High King of Tara King Laoghaire. The King eventually gave Patrick permission to convert the Irish People to Christianity.